Variable resistances for an electrical circuit

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for predeterminately and progressively interconnecting input and output conductors of a multiplicity of supply lines for fluid or electrical sources utilizes a slide fastener or coupling system which utilizes a pair of opposed strip flexible sections carrying adjacent to their opposed longitudinal edges, cooperating interconnecting media. One or more slide members slidable longitudinally of said strips progressively engage portions of said opposed interconnecting media to interlock the same progressively drawing said opposing edges closely together and in so doing, when slidably applied in one direction, to interconnect predetermined pairs of spaced conductors attached to said strip and having each in communication with an electrical or fluid source whereby when said slide member is actuated in one direction interconnection of predetermined pairs of conductors is effected and when said slide element is actuated in the opposite direction all of said sets of conductors become disconnected.

Unite 1 States Patent [1 1 Ohman Aug. 14, 1973 VARIABLE RESISTANCES FOR AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT 22 Filed: Oct. 29, 1570 [21] Appl.No.:85,081'

[52] US. Cl 338/92, 338/120, 338/126,

339/151 M [51] Int. Cl H016 5/00, HOlc 13/00 [58] Field of Search 339/151 M;

24/205.l3 R, 205.13 C; 338/92, 125, 126, 128, 133, 136, 203

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,084 11/1933 Murphy 24/205.13 R 3,057,031 10/1962 Wahl 24/205.13 C

2,877,439 3/1959 Avery.... 339/151 M 2,926,329 2/1960 Crane 339/151 M FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 351,500 6/1931 Great Britain 339/151 M Primary Examiner Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examinen-Lawrence J. Staab Attorney-Williamson, Palmatier & Bains, George F. Williamson, H. Dale Palmatier and Herman H. Bains ABSTRACT Apparatus for predeterminately and progressively interconnecting input and output conductors of a multiplicity of supply lines for fluid or electrical sources utilizes a slide fastener or coupling system which utilizes a pair of opposed strip flexible sections carrying adjacent to their opposed longitudinal edges, cooperating interconnecting media. One or more slide members slidable longitudinally of said strips progressively engage portions of said opposed interconnecting media to interlock the same progressively drawing said opposing edges closely together and in so doing, when slidably applied in one direction, to interconnect predetermined pairs of spaced conductors attached to said strip and having each in communication with an electrical or fluid source whereby when said slide member is actuated in one direction interconnection of predetermined pairs of conductors is effected and when said slide element is actuated in the opposite direction all of said sets of conductors become disconnected.

3 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r\ xx INVENTOR. 150 S. Off/14 PM yfiaw Patented Aug. 14,1973 3,753,201

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lrrazn rr VARIABLE RESISTANCES FOR AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT This invention relates to devices, apparatus or systems, for very quickly andpredeterminately interconnecting and coupling input and output conductors and conduits of a multiplicity of supply lines for liquid, gas or electrical sources.

My invention, for actuating the coupling and uncoupling of input and output conductors and conduits, employs the general principles of several types of slidefasteners such as are manufactured and sold by Talon Fastener Company of Meadville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.,

as well as a few other companies which manufacture and sell fastener mechanism for securing and interlocking the longitudinal edges of two strips provided each with cooperating interlocking elements, together with a slide camming means for bringing the cooperating fastener elements into interlocked relation and for releasing the same when desired.

In my various forms of the invention I employ specially constructed cooperating fastener elements on or near the edges of two opposed, preferably flexible strips, which by slide fastener action can be coupled and uncoupled, and which also constitute short conductors or conduits for coupling input and output lines of an electrical, or fluid system which may have a few or a very large number of connections involved therein. With such a system webs or plates may be interconnected with the flexible strips on which the cooperaing fastener elements are mounted as desired, and opposed fastener elements or claws may be selected to predeterminately establish the overall electrical or fluid system.

interconnections between the input and output conductors and conduits are very quickly and accurately performed with progressive interlocking of all of the opposed fastening claws or cooperating fastening elements. Thus with my apparatus and system several dif ferent circuits or fluid-directing systems can be set up, each dependent on the extent of sliding of the actuating camming element. For example, with proper indicia on the strip showing the relative sliding of the camming device for one circuit or fluid system, such connections may be accomplished when the slide element is moved to a predetermined indicated position. Further movement of the slide element to another indicated position may interconnect a second and supplementary number of lines essential to a second desired system, etc.

It will be understood that the strips which carry, near their longitudinal edges, the actual cooperating fastening elements or claws, also serve to have attachment thereto of flexible or plastic or other webs or panels on which may be carried metalized or printed circuits, or small conduits or conductors of a fluid-distributing systems. The input and output units of my systems can be designed to take care of a very wide variety, supply or loads of gas, liquid or electrical transfers.

For electrical transfers or couplings between input and output, the contacts made in the actual fastener elements will be slightly spring-loaded to cause the contacts to slide together prior to reaching final secured position and this sliding action will clean the contact surfaces of any minor insulating film. In many cases the spring loading will not be necessary.

For gas or liquid transfers the seal from the input to the output through the actual cooperating fastener elements or claws, may be made utilizing a wide variety of established seals in the coupling such as O-rings', cones, spherical shapes and the like.

With my invention each input connector may have several output connectors or vice versa. There is no reasonable limit to the number of connections which can be made since the input and output connectors can be made on a continuous basis, carrying out the principles of a long slide fastener structure.

With my invention the unit consumes only a very minimum space and can be designed to be dust proof or vibration proof, and the connections and disconnections between input and output may be very quickly and precisely made in accordance to predetermined circuits or conduit systems. The apparatus may be readily adapted to a flexible, laminated cable.

When employing embodiments of my invention for quickly coupling the input and output conductors for electric and electronic systems, the opposed interlocking elements or claws affixed to the two flexible strips are predeterminately selected from either high-- conductive metals or tough, substantially nonconductive materials such as nylon. Thus, at that points along the slide fastener device where respective electrical connections between input and output are desired, the metallic, high-conductive claws are selected, while the other opposed fastening elements or claws are constructed from a relatively very low electrical conductive material. Preferably, the metal conductive claws or plastic elements are from a material having adequate resilient characteristics to produce wiping contact between the interrelated opposed elements when the slide member of the construction hold such elements together for fastening.

The embodiments of my invention which will quickly couple and interlock input and output conduits of various fluid systems employ at least a multiplicity of hollow cooperating sets of claws fixedly mounted upon their respective opposed flexible strips. The actuation of the slide member and its camming functions progressively lock the hollow small conduit elements which also, on their exterior, suffice as the interlocking elements of the system.

In such fluid systems all of the claws or interlocking elements may be short tubular elements or, if desired, all of the said claws, with the exception of those selected for coupling, may be of solid natu're constructed from metal or certain of the tough plastics, including nylon.

In an embodiment of my apparatus in a system for electrical conduits, to provide a variable resistance and potentiometer mechanism, all interlocking elements may be constructed from highly conductive metal and the amount of resistance interposed will depend upon the extent of the movement of the slide element of the device.

The foregoing uses, functions and advantages of my invention will be more readily apparent from the following description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views V FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the structure of FIG. I and at an area thereon where the interconnecting opposed elements are interlocked;

FIG. 3 is a greatly magnified longitudinal section similar to the section of FIG. 2 wherein a different type of cooperating interlocking means or element is employed, constructed of a metal having resiliency and predetermined conductivity;

FIG. 3A is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 3, on a much smaller scale, showing the metal cam slide element connected electrically with a flexible wire or conductor element, constituting a tap.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating an embodiment of my invention for quickly and precisely coupling together input and output lines or conduits of a fluid communicating or control system with the slide member disposed in partially coupled position;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken ona substantially larger scale on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing one embodiment of hollow cooperating claw or interfastening elements;

FIG. 6 is a similar cross section showing another embodiment of my invention as applied to at least certain preselected hollow claws of fastening elements for fluid distribution systems;

FIGS. 7 9 inclusive are enlarged cross sectional views of three modified fluid coupling and interconnecting elements, each of a different construction relative to sealing of the opposing coupled elements;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing sectional cut edges of another embodiment of my invention applied to input and output lines of a complex fluid supply system;

7 separate conductors of an input cable with output lines in a rather complicated electrical supply system.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention v illustrated 'in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a slide fastener device is illustrated, for the most part of conventional structure, comprising a pair of flexible strips S and S, preferably constructed of a tough fabric sheet the stud 14 of the adjacent claw when the claws are cammed together in interlocked relationship. The claws of the two strips are conventionally secured in staggered relation, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A conventional slide and camming element indicated as an entirety by the letter C is slidably mounted upon material (but not limited thereto) specially woven to limit the stretchability thereof. The strips S and S are disposed in side-by-side relation with their longitudinal inner edges opposed and having firmly attached to said edges in conventional manner, a great multiplicity of interlocking elements, hereafter often referred to as claws, of generally conventional structure. Certain of the said interlocking elements or claws, designated as 11, are constructed of tough metal having high electrical conductive properties, while the remaining of said claws are of precisely similar construction 12 but are made of material such as nylon having extremely poor electrical conductive qualities. All of the claws 11 and 12 have inner bifurcated fastening jaws 13 which are, by machines, firmly clamped upon the edges of the respective strips S or S on which the same are fastened, and the claws are all spaced in parallel, equithe two sets of claws and in conventional manner, has faces loosely engageable with the exterior edges of the claws and rounded edge portions 16 engageable with the inner abutment ends of the claws; and further has a camming throat 17 of conventional structure overlying the external side edges of the claws and having smooth, converging camming edges for bringing the claws together into interlocking position or relation between the studs 14 and the complemntary socket 15 of the respective claws.

The two strips S and S, each carrying a multiplicity of the cooperating interlocking claws, are fixedly held by tubular members T in substantially abutting position at the lower end of the device, as shown in FIG. 1, and a U-clamping member 16 firmly secures the two strips together below the tubular elements T.

Attached to the two strips S and S of the fastener device are relatively large-area panels indicated as entireties by the letters P and P, which for electrical circuitry are constructed of somewhat flexible material in sheet form such as vinyl, linear polyethylene, or other plastic or textile materials having very poor electrical conductive qualities. These panels, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are broken away some distance outwardly of the interlocking claws, but their inner longitudinal edges preferably extend up. and to the inner ends of the claws 11 and 12, preferably in contact therewith. The panels P and P permanently carry a multiplicity of electrical conductors X and X respectively, affixed in predetermined, spaced and sometimes interconnected relationship, numerous of which have terminals electrically connected as clearly shown in FIG. 2, to the inner ends of terminals of the electrically conductive claws 11.

It will be understood that the conductors X and X may be those of a'metalized circuit with the metal embedded in grooves or bonded to the face of each of the panels; or printed circuitry may be utilized in predetermined manner upon the panels or actual wires may be stapled or otherwise secured to the panels with the terminals thereof soldered or otherwise affixed to the inner ends of the respective conductive claws.

It will be further understood that panels P and P may be of thicker-sheet material having little flexibility, but in such cases the strips S and S are wider than usual and must of course carry short electrical conductors communicating with the respective conductive claws l l When the structure as described is employed, it will be seen that when it is desired to electrically interconnect the inputs and outputs of elaborate and complicated circuitry, as well as simplified circuitry, the slide camming member C is actuated or slid in an upward direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby interlocking and electrically connecting the respective cooperating pairs of electrical conductive claws, firmly affixed to the strips S and S. I

Sometimes it is desirable in circuitry to on a a plurality of circuits, conductors of which are carried upon the panels P and P. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the position indicated by a bold arrow and the numeral 1 is shown intermediate of upper and lower ends of the fastener. In a second position of the cam slider in FIG. 1, identified by arrow and the numeral 2, either a second circuit can be thrown into operation as an independent circuit, or as a circuit which would be supplementary to the circuit 1, and of course to actuate this and interconnect inputs and outputs of the second circuit, the slide camming element C would be slid upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1 to interconnect the predetermined additional cooperating electrical conductive claws intermediate of the two positions 1 and 2.

Preferably the claws ll of electrical conductive metal, are slightly spring loaded so that in the intercamming action and connection of two cooperating claws, a wiping action is produced sufficient to remove slight films of corrosion and non-conductive material from the contacting surfaces of the studs 14 with the sockets 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, makes possible connections and disconnections within a very wide range, for electrical circuits supplying power to a great variety of machines, equipment, processes and displays; or to a great variety of different control mechanisms. The unit uses a minimum of space and can easily bedesigned, as will appear later in this application, to be dust-proof and vibration-proof. Each input connector can have several output connectors or vice versa. There is no reasonable limit to the number of connections which can be made through one efficient slide fastener structure, since. the input and output connectors can be made on a continuous basis, such as an elongate zipper or slide fastener.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, which isused for quickly and accurately obtaining variable resistances as desired, the type of slide fastener here shown on a greatly magnified scale is one of the type manufactured and sold by Talon Fastener Company of Meadville, Pa., and employs a pair of elongate highly flexible strips 84 and S3, constructed oftough fabric material, including at the closely spaced longitudinal edges thereof, looped stitching fabric elements Z and Z, which respectively entwine metallic coils of resilient nature and 21. Thus the small diameter metallic coil 20 is carried by and affixed to the flexible strip S-2 while the coil 21 is affixed to the strip 8-3, with convolutions of said coils 20 and 21 being opposed in staggered relation for ultimate unlocking.

In FIG. 3 the coils 20 and 21 are illustrated as brought into interlocking relation with a conventional camming slide (not shown) for conventional slide fasteners. An input lead will be connected with one terminal of the coil 21 and one or more output leads or conductors will'be connected with various points on the great variety and economical supply of variable resistance components and apparatus.

The type of electrical connections from lead-in or connection with electrical energy source are exemplary as shown in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this connection it will be understood that one or several camming slide elements may be employed in variable resistance apparatus, including potentiometers, with predetermined graduations or indicia along the travel of the several cam sliders imprinted or shown along the panels for a great variety of multiple purposes. In considering the possibilities of such uses, it is pointed out that each coil of the variable resistance element shown in FIG. 3 could have different resistance values. Electrical taps off of each coil may be spaced a short distance apartand this factor with two or more slide elements could give a great variety of resistance combinations. It will also be understood that flexible electrical connections to the cam slide elements may be made for different variances. The foregoing remarks are equally applicable to metallic claw elements of predetermined resistance values of the type shown in FIG. 1.

In the foregoing instances where two or more sliding elements are employed, it will be understood that the opposed interlocking media of the edges of the fastener will be substantially elongated. I also have experimented with a slide fastener element having claws or helical sets of coils which are supported on a cylindrical medium and, when closed, are in the form of a circular apparatusln general, an arrangement and holder for the slide fastener structure, such as shown in FIG. 13, could be employed.

In the embodiments of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 12 of the drawings, inclusive, devices or apparatus are shown for interconnecting the input and output lines for transmitting fluids, comprising liquids, steam, gases and vapors.

Referring first to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and S, specially constructed, rather heavy sheet panels P-2 and P-3 are provided, of suitable material such as rubher or rubber composition, having a fair degree of flexibility and also compressibility and elasticity. Panels P-2 and P-3 are formed with a plurality of respectively aligned conduit bores or passages 25 and 26 therein, as shown extending generally perpendicularly to the opposing edges thereof. At said opposing edges somewhat thicker interlocking and sealing elements 27 and 28 are molded or otherwise formed in the composition material, and as shown, the elongate element 27 is provided with a groove 27a undercut and substantially arcuate in cross section near a locking shoulder 27b, and extend ing the full length of member 27. Centrally of the groove 27a, curved bores or conduits 25a are formed in reverse curve manner to connect with the respective conduit bores 25 of panel P-2. The opposing longitudinal edge of the panel P-3 is molded or otherwise formed to provide a projecting rib 28a which has a generally curved peripheral edge undercut at the shoulder 27b and closely dimensioned relative to the groove 27a to interlock therewith when slightly compressed and forced in the direction of the element 27. The outer portion of the elongate element 28 has a channel 28b formed therein to abut against and seal with a rib 270 formed outwardly of the channel 27a when pressed into engagement therewith.

Elongate element 28 has formed therein a plurality of curved passages 26a in communication with the several conduit bores 26 and terminating substantially centrally of the elongate rib 28a in direct opposition and communication when the elements 27 and 28 are interconnected, with the respective passages 25a of panel P-2. A rigid cam slide C-2 is adapted to ride the exterior side edges of the interlocking and communicating elements 27 and 28, having a converging camming throat 29 and a general slide body 29a, which when the slide is actuated by an upstanding handle lip 29b, engages the outer side edges of elements 27 and 28 to force the same together in the interlocked position shown in FIG. 5. When the camming slide C2 is actuated in the opposite direction, the interlocking members 27 and 28 are released and will spring apart with disconnection of the input and output sets of conduits.

The compression of elements 27 and 28 and interfitting of the groove 27a with the central bead 28a, forms a positive seal about the points of communication and prevents escape of fluid including liquid and gas or vapor.

In the embodiments illustrated in the enlarged crosssectional views, FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, interlocking fastening elements 30 and 31 of the cooperating stud and recess type, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are employed, but fixed respectively with the narrow, relatively non-stretchable strips S2 and 8-3. The strips S2 and S-3 are fixedly secured, as by efficient bonding, to the upper marginal edges of panel members P-4 and P-5, which have formed therethrough a plurality of input and output bores or fluid passages 32 and 33 respectively, said passages extending at least for the most part, in parallel spaced relation and substantially perpendicularly of the opposing edges of the strips S2 and 8-3. At the communicating and terminal end of the passages 32 a tapered sealing element 32a is supplied in each instance while at the opposing edges of the panel I-"4 a symmetrically shaped, convergingly tapered circular seat 33a is provided for each passage. A camming slide member C-3 has a body 35 of substantially squared tubular cross section, communicating with the outwardly diverging, side camming portions 35a for bringing the two sets of interlocking elements 30 and 31 together when the slide member C-3 is slid -in one direction upon the interconnecting elements.

communication for each thereof, identified as an entirety by the numeral 37.

In FIG. 8 the joint formed between the input and output pairs of conduit bores is made with the use of an O- ring 0. This view also shows in dotted lines the opposed spaced relation and interconnection of the plurality of input and output conduit bores, and in full lines, the cammed interconnected positions of such elements.

In FIG. 9 a specially formed pair of opposing panels P-6 and P-7 is shown, constructed of rather flexible, elastic and somewhat compressible material such as rubber, the opposing edge of panel P-6 carrying a plurality of arcuate sockets 40, each in communication with one of the input passages or bores 41. The panel P7, at its opposing edge, carries a similar plurality of ball-shaped studs 42, each interiorly having communication with one of the bore conduits 43. In this instance i an upper and lower camming slide member C-4 and C5 are provided for interlocking the elements 40 and 42, and for pressing the two together, which provides a sealing relation between the elements of each communicating conduit.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10 (adapted for-interconnection of fluid lines), two panels P-8 and P-9 are specially constructed to form a plurality of transverse conduits 40 and 41 respectively. As shown, the said conduits are formed by heat-sealing or otherwise bonding or interconnecting transverse spacing portions 42 of a pair of opposed sheets of substantially flexible materials, such as thermoplastics, or sheet metal. It will be understood that with sheet metals, the portions may be molded from the two opposed sheets and welded,

soldered or brazed together.

It will be understood that one of the panels, such as the input panel P-9, may be provided with only one conduit which could communicate with a transverse intermediate conduit having communication with a plurality of conduits which would register when the two panel edges are forced together by slide fastener devices of the type shown in FIG. 9. The interlocking elements 43 and 44 of the slide fastener devices may be integrally formed or molded from the thermoplastic or other materials of the overall sheet construction. As shown, the female interlocking element 43 isprovided with an undercut groove 43a which may extend longitudinally for the length of the abutting edges of the panels and which, as shown, is integrally formed with a reinforcing sheet 45 which is heat-sealed or otherwise bonded with the tops of the conduit formations 40. Likewise, the male or ribbed interconnecting element 44 may be integrally molded from a top sheet 45a connected on its underside by bonding, heat sealing or the like with the upper portions of the conduits 41.

Preferably, a reinforcing under sheet 46 is provided interconnected, such as by heat-sealing or bonding, to the projection portions of the conduits 41 in panel P-9. Panel P-S is similarly constructed.

In this form, for precise bringing together and sealing the opposing-ends of the conduits 40 and 41, two strips of the integrally formed slide fastener devices provided.

The upper set has the slide camming member C-S slidably mounted on the outward longitudinal edges of the interlocking elements 43 and 44. A similar slide camming device is provided (not shown) for the lower interlocking members 47 and 48. i i

The embodiment of FIG. 11 is similar in general structure to that shown in FIG. 10 but, however, the panels P 10 and P-II are cut along side edges 50 and 51 at an angle of 45 with respect to the edges 52 and 53 of the two panels P-10 and P-ll respectively.

FIG. 12 shows a conduit connector structure substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 6 provided with an accessory dust exclusion medium comprising a flexible flap F having one of its' edges sealed and connected with the top wall of panel P-4 and having its opposite marginal portion F-l provided with, as shown, an integrally formed sealing rib F-Z which may be hand pressed or fastener operated by sliding means with a slightly undercut sealing channel provided and secured properly through the panel P-5 at the top thereof and somewhat inwardly of the joint between the two fastener member of the two panels.

In FlG. 13 an efficient and compact apparatus is disclosed for interconnecting desired input electrical conduits or leads with output leads, as shown, utilizing for input a cable having a multiplicity of small electrical wires or leads disposed therein. The cable, identified by 65, is shown in full lines in the broken away lower portion of the cylindrical panel P-l2. At the top of FIG. 13, the connection of input wires 66 to electrically conductive claw elements 67 of a conventional-type slide fastener having for the most part claw elements cooperating on opposing edges of a circular strip is shown (of the structure disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2). The remaining claw elements not electrically connected are made of a material, such as nylon, having very low electrical conductivity. The opposing electrical flow elements 68 of highly conductive materials are shown as soldered or otherwise electrically connected with the wires 69 which are affixed to the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical upper panel member P-ll and are very efficiently bonded, stitched or otherwise secured thereto. A slide member, identical with the cam slider C of FIG. 1 (not shown), is provided to couple, interlock and uncouple the respective cooperating claw fasteners of the structure. g

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that manifold embodiments and forms of my invention are provided for very quickly and precisely and predeterminately interconnecting input and output conduits, of a multiplicity of supply lines for fluid as well as electrical sources. The term conduits as used herein and in the appended claims is expressly intended to include efficient conductors or lines of all kinds for electrical circuitry as well as .tubes, cores or mitting fluid sources including gas, vapors and liquids.

My invention, in its numerous embodiments, has many uses, some of which may be classified as follows:

I. To supply power to a wide variety of machines,

equipment, processes and displays, considering both electrical source and supply power from a hydraulic source.

2. To supply power (electrical or hydraulic) to a wide variety of control systems.

3. To obtain vibration-proof connections (fluid and electrical) where necessary. 4. For use in fluid systems where a fire hazard exists by using a nonflammable fluid or gas for power or 7 control rather than electrical power. 5. For making a great multiplicity of electrical or fluid connections economically and with utilization of littlespace for the coupling apparatus.

It has been shown that the unit can be readily adapted to a flexible laminated cable.-

Disconnections can be readily, made between input and output on relatively simple or on output systems passages for trans-' (electrical or fluid) where a great multiplicity of conduits are necessary in the output circuitry or system.

As pointed out, the unit employs only a minimal space and can be designed to be vibration and dustproof if necessary.

There is no reasonable limit to the number of connections that can be made on the output since the input and output connectors can be made on a continuous basis employing the principles of a long slide fastener device.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for predeterminately interconnecting electrical input and output conductors and for inherently and multifunctionally providing widely variable resistances for an electrical circuit having in combination,

a pair of carrying sections constructed of dielectric material having opposed longitudinal edges,

a slide fastener mechanism having two sets of interlocking media constituting elongate continuous small helical elements constructed of electrically I conductive material having preselected resistance qualities, one of said sets being secured to the opposing edge of one of said sections and the second set being secured to the opposing edge of the second carrying section,

a camming slide member for progressively interlocking said pair of cooperating media when moved in one direction, and for progressively unlocking and separating the elements of said cooperating media when moved in the opposite direction,

the number of cooperative interlocking of said conductive resistant elements being interconnected determining the amount of resistance provided for an electrical circuit,

a conductor for electrically connecting the interlocking medium carried by one of said sections with a source of electricity, and

at least one conductive tap conductor electrically connected with the interlocking medium carried by the opposing section.

2. The structure and combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said tap conductor is in the form ofa flexible electrical conductor connected with said cam slide element.

3. The structure and combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said conductor has branch connections with one set of said interlocking medium at a plurality of longitudinally spaced points therein and wherein a plurality of tap conductors is electrically connected with predetermined longitudinally spaced interlocking elements carried by the opposing section. 

1. Apparatus for predeterminately interconnecting electrical input and output conductors and for inherently and multifunctionally providing widely variable resistances for an electrical circuit having in combination, a pair of carrying sections constructed of dielectric material having opposed longitudinal edges, a slide fastener mechanism having two sets of interlocking media constituting elongate continuous small helical elements constructed of electrically conductive material having preselected resistance qualities, one of said sets being secured to the opposing edge of one of said sections and the second set being secured to the opposing edge of the second carrying section, a camming slide member for progressively interlocking said pair of cooperating media when moved in one direction, and for progressively unlocking and separating the elements of said cooperating media when moved in the opposite direction, the number of cooperative interlocking of said conductive resistant elements being interconnected determining the amount of resistance provided for an electrical circuit, a conductor for electrically connecting the interlocking medium carried by one of said sections with a source of electricity, and at least one conductive tap conductor electrically connected with the interlocking medium carried by the opposing section.
 2. The structure and combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said tap conductor is in the form of a flexible electrical conductor connected with said cam slide element.
 3. The structure and combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said conductor has branch connections with one set of said interlocking medium at a plurality of longitudinally spaced points therein and wherein a plurality of tap conductors is electrically connected with predetermined longitudinally spaced interlocking elements carried by the opposing section. 